Episode 7507

Extended Summary

Nikau is taken back to the shipping crate by Paul, where Bella and Ryder have clearly been filling Chloe in on who their kidnappers are. They ask Nikau (who is a bit sore from being elbowed) what’s going on and he explains they’re being held so Ari and Tane will come. He is certain his uncles will comply. Ryder wonders if they should make a break for it next time the door’s open but Nikau and Bella point out there’s nowhere to go plus Chloe can’t run on her ankle. Chloe doesn’t want to lose Ari. Meanwhile, outside the surf club, Mackenzie is complaining to Ziggy about Ryder not turning up for work, especially when she could use a day off. They briefly discuss her morning sickness before Roo and Mia appear. Mackenzie confirms neither Ryder nor Chloe turned up for work. Roo and Mia explain that none of Ryder, Bella, Nikau and Chloe came home (Mia glosses over how she knows this when Chloe lives with Ari). Ziggy is dismissive, thinking they’ve just been partying, but decides to go to Ari’s with Mia while Roo goes to the caravan park.

Ari and Tane are cursing the fact they thought they were shot of Paul and the lack of contact when Ziggy and Mia arrive. Ziggy continues to not take the matter seriously and Tane takes her into his room, giving Ari and Mia a chance to talk. Ari admits the kids have been taken as payback for something he and Tane did but insists they’ll get them back and can’t involve the police. Mia says she should never have trusted him. In his room, Tane tells Ziggy that the kids just had a wild night and need picking up, and Ari’s just being overprotective. Ari appears and says they’ve got the address. As he and Tane head out, Ari stops by Mia, who has her back to him, and promises to bring Chloe back.

Martha comes into the house and is surprised to find Alf there. He says he’s waiting for news of Ryder. Roo comes back as Alf explains to Martha that Ryder’s missing: He and his friend went to Yabbie Creek last night and haven’t been heard from since. Martha says she’ll ask Irene, who might have heard from Bella. Instead, she calls Kieran, asking if he had anything to do with it and telling him not to punish Ryder because of her. Meanwhile, Ziggy and Mia arrive at the Diner and order coffees from Irene. Ziggy still thinks it’s no big deal and is stunned when Mia laments that she was in bed with Ari while Chloe was being kidnapped. Mia explains it’s some people wanting payback. Ziggy recounts what Tane said and Mia replies that he’s a liar like Ari.

Ari and Tane drive through the bush until they get to the shipping crate, where Paul and his balaclaved henchmen are waiting. Leon brings Bella, Nikau, Ryder and Chloe out. The groups face off and Paul announce it’s payback time. Ari and Tane are searched and then demand Paul release the youngsters. Leon holds up a bandaged hand, noting it was the work of the River Boys. When Ari continues to insist on the hostages being released, Leon elbows him in the stomach, causing Chloe to cry out in alarm. This gets Paul’s attention and he starts mockingly caressing her. Ari shoves Leon aside and starts grappling with two of the henchmen, with Tane fighting the other two. Nikau helps out and Ryder strikes Paul with a pipe, knocking him out and getting Chloe to safety. Tane gives Nikau the car keys and he and Ari tell him to go. Bella, Nikau, Ryder and Chloe all make it to the car and drive off, leaving Ari and Tane to continue the fight.

At the Diner, Ziggy tries to get information from Mia. Irene brings coffees over and cheerily asks what they’re talking about. Mia leaves upset, and Irene asks what’s going on. Ziggy explains that Chloe, Bella and the boys are all missing. Back at the caravan park house, Alf finishes a call to Justin and Roo notes Ryder wouldn’t be at TAFE because he doesn’t have lectures. Irene arrives and wonders why no-one told her. Alf and Roo are confused, since Martha was meant to have told her. Martha says she called and Irene didn’t answer. Irene thinks it’s suspicious that no-one’s answering their phone and Alf decides to call the police.

Ziggy arrives at the farm house and tells Mackenzie that Ryder and the kids have been kidnapped and Ari and Tane have gone after them. They both guess that Paul and Leon are responsible. Mackenzie frets that Ari doesn’t even know he might be going to be a father. Ziggy reassures her that they’ll both be fine. Meanwhile, the youngsters have returned to Summer Bay and Bella helps Chloe sit down. Nikau, the only one still in the car, tells Ryder he’s going back for Ari and Tane. Ryder and Bella try to talk him out of it but he speeds off.

Ryder, Chloe and Bella make it to the Diner and run into Mia; she and Chloe are glad to see each other. Ryder explains Nikau went back for Ari and Tane, and borrows Mia’s phone to call the police. Meanwhile, as Nikau approaches the scene, he passes Paul driving in the opposite direction. As he reaches the crate, he finds Leon and the other thugs dazed or unconscious, with Ari and Tane still on their feet. Ari takes a phone and says they’ll hand it over to the police.

Ryder is putting a cold compress on Chloe’s ankle as Alf, Irene, Roo and Martha arrive. Mia gets a text from Ari saying they’re all right, the police are there, and he’ll meet them at the house. Martha asks Ryder if he saw the kidnappers and Ryder says it was the men from the brawl outside the Paratas’. Martha looks relieved. Meanwhile, Ari, Nikau and Tane are at home as Bella, Mia and Chloe arrive. Nikau and Bella go to chat and Tane tries to tend to Chloe but Mia announces Chloe is going to stay with her and she’s just there to pack a bag. Ari tries to protest but Mia tells him not to come near them and leads Chloe out. Chloe looks unhappy but doesn’t object.

Back at the Stewart house, Alf and Roo are discussing events while Martha sees Kieran loitering by the back door. Ryder appears and says the police need him to make a statement. Alf says he’ll drive him in, with Roo also going out, while Martha heads in Kieran’s direction. Meanwhile, Tane turns up at the farm house. Ziggy had already heard he was all right but is unimpressed that he lied to her. Tane says he was protecting her but Ziggy says she’s been burned by men like him before and tells him to leave. Later, she gets Mackenzie some ginger tea and wonders if they should buy a baby manual. Mackenzie notes she has a big decision to make.

Martha and Kieran are chatting on the pier. Kieran says he got Martha’s messages. Martha apologises for suspecting him but says it’s not safe for him to be out and about and he should head back to the van. Irene approaches and sees Martha talking to thin air, wondering who she’s talking to. Martha gestures to the empty space next to her and says Irene knows her son Kieran. Irene looks as though she isn’t sure how to respond.